HISTORY OF CAPTAIN JOB KNAPP CHAPTER

On March 2nd, 1904, Mrs. Evelyn Fellows Masury, Massachusetts (MA) State Regent, organized the Captain Job Knapp Chapter, East Douglas, MA with a charter membership of 38, the largest charter membership in the State of MA at the time.

Mrs. Sarah E. Brown, the first regent of this new chapter was given a gavel made of oak from the Moses Hill Inn, located in Douglas, MA, where George Washington and Lafayette stopped on their way from Philadelphia to Boston.

Four of the organizing members were Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Fossell, Mrs. Whittemore, and Miss Prentice.  These ladies were descendants of Captain Job Knapp for whom the chapter was named.

Captain Job Knapp Chapter members celebrate Christmas in Sturbridge, MA, in 2011. 

 CAPTAIN JOB KNAPP CHAPTER

 into the 21st Century

Captain Job Knapp Chapter celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2004.

We hold meetings once a month from September to June and do many service projects throughout the year.  Please contact us for further information. Several members have served as State and National Officers.  One member was State Regent and another has received National and State Awards for her essays.

Captain Job Knapp Chapter participates in the following DAR projects:

• American History Awards to school children.
• Outstanding Teacher of American History Awards
• Community Service Awards to outstanding local people in the community.
• Conservation
• Support to DAR Schools
• Donate comfort items to Veterans in the local community

• GOOD CITIZEN AWARD   
Each year Captain Job Knapp Chapter honors four local high school students who exemplify good citizenship and scholastic achievement with the DAR Good Citizen Awards.
 
The participating schools: 
 
Douglas High School
Northbridge High School
Whitinsville Christian School
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical School 
 
   

• DOUGLAS SOUTH STREET CEMETERY PROJECT

 In 2010, five members of the Captain Job Knapp Chapter, DAR started documenting Douglas' South Street Cemetery, and we are nearly done.  The process involves photographing the headstones, then recording everything from measurements to inscriptions.

 There are approximately 300 graves at this historic site that are in fairly good shape including a remarkable set of iron gates.

 Its located about 1/2 mile from the Rhode Island line and sits just south of the site of a Methodist Church which no longer exists.  We hope to put our pictures and statistics together and finish the documentation soon.

• COMMEMORATIVE BRONZE PLAQUE RESTORATION PROJECT 

Currently our chapter is working on restoration of an old bronze plaque which honors men from Douglas who served in the Revolutionary war.   The plaque was presented to the town in 1933 and has been in storage at the Douglas Town Hall many years. 

It is our hope to someday display the plaque in public view as the chapter intended many years ago.

On the eighteenth of October 1904, the chapter met at the home of Mrs. Ann Bowen at which time her mother, Mrs. Sally M. (Reynolds) Allen was welcomed to Captain Job Knapp Chapter as a Real Daughter.  (Distinction of honor given to DAR members whose fathers were patriots in the Revolutionary War.)   Mrs. Allen was delighted to review the days of long ago and tell interesting stories of her early life.

She was one of eleven children, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Reynolds and was born in Warwick, Rhode Island on February 20, 1810.  At the age of fourteen she learned to weave in the mill.  In December 1832 she was united in marriage in Smithfield to Richard Allen, a cabinet-maker.  They moved to Woonsocket, Rhode Island where they resided a number of years.

In her younger days Mrs. Allen was fond of braiding rugs; her record for one winter having been nine.  Later in life she made many silk sofa-pillows, chair-cushions and quilts.  At the age of 88 she made a quilt composed of squares one and one-half inches in size and was able to use a sewing machine to do the work.  She distinctly remembered seeing General Jackson, also Washington and Lafayette.

Mrs. Allen's father, Henry Reynolds, enlisted in the Revolutionary Army when a lad of eighteen and was stationed near Newport.  Her maternal grandfather, Samuel Mitchell, was also in the service.

Mrs. Allen was proud to be a member of the DAR and especially prized the Real Daughter gold spoon which was presented to her.

She left us on February 15, 1905, five days before her 95th birthday. The chapter has placed a Real Daughter marker at her grave and on each Memorial Day, flowers are lovingly placed there."

The family name KNAPP originated in Saxony, a province of Germany.  The name KNAPP, is derived from the Saxon word, spelled Cnoep, meaning hill or summit.  Most Knapp descendants of old England believed their nationality as Anglo-Saxon, or English.

Captain Job Knapp was a fourth generation Knapp who lived in America.  His great grandfather, Aaron Knapp came over from England about 1638 and settled in Taunton, MA.  Aaron Knapp took the oath of fidelity in 1657 and was given his freedom on June 7th 1659.  On July 24, 1653, Aaron was one of the thirteen persons who viewed the body of Thomas Bradley who was found dead on a "highway".  He was on a jury to investigate the death of James Wyatt as well, on July 5th, 1664.

Capt. Job Knapp's grandfather was Samuel Knapp.  He was a shoemaker by trade and in 1768 gave his residence as Rehobeth.  Samuel Knapp's will was written in April 1719.  Samuel's fifth son, Seth, was Capt. Job Knapp's father.

In 1757, Seth was engaged in the first Foot Company of Taunton Training Bank and served in the Revolutionary War.  He was also Captain in Philip Walker's Company, and served in the French and Indian War.  Captain Job Knapp's uncle, Joseph, brother of Seth was killed in King Phillip's War.

 Captain Job Knapp was born in Taunton, MA and was the eldest of four children.  He married Ruth Reid of Taunton, MA.  (Ruth Reid's family goes back to the Mayflower through the Richmonds to Rogers' line.)

Captain Job Knapp had already moved from Taunton to Douglas when he enlisted in Nathaniel Tyler's regiment in 1780 and served in the Revolutionary War.  His war service was from Lieutenant on May 18, 1775 to Captain on July 27, 1780; with his last day of service being on March 15, 1781.  His will is dated Oct. 23, 1784 and he died in Douglas, MA on May 26, 1786.

Captain Job Knapp's son was also named Job Knapp and served in the Revolutionary War as well.  He was called "Lieutenant Job".  Lt. Job Knapp was married to Sarah Wilson, whose ancestry goes back to Roger Wilson.  Roger Wilson was instrumental in the preparation of the Mayflower voyage from England.

Lt. Job's third son was also named Job Knapp.  Job Knapp III (born in Douglas July 18, 1795 and died on July 30, 1840) was married to Sarah Balcom.  Job Knapp III settled on his father's estate and ran a country store with his uncle, Benjamin Wilson and brother, Moses Knapp.

There are many descendants of the originator, Aaron Knapp.  Knapps are found in Vermont and Washington, and some as far away as Alaska.  It is a family name to be proud of.  Such goodly heritage has produced Lyman Enos Knapp, third governor of Alaska, who was third in descent from Captain Job Knapp.